Meta-Festival of the Dead ((End posted))

[Valdmir Talamore]

Welcome to the Festival of the Dead!
Festival ORP on Discord
The season changes to fall and the nights grow darker with the passing of the days. The time has come to honor a tradition from long ago. No one really remembers who started it or what was their reasons they had behind starting the tradition. Kitsusagi call this event "The Festival of the Dead." Despite its rather grim sounding name this time is a reflection of the past. A celebration even of the Kitsu who have departed the realms. There are many ways Kitsu go about honoring this festival. Some have shrines they visit and clean, others dress and act like their well loved family member that is no longer with them. No matter how your Kitsusagi choose to celebrate it seems to do everyone well to remember the past. There has always been a popular spot where families come to set up shrines. Stones covered in ivy litter the ground surrounded with a strangely perfect ring of trees. All year long it seems fireflies might gather here lighting the area with a small glow just enough to barely light the paths between the stones. As Kitsusagi gather in this place there seems to be a bit more light then there has been before. On one of the ivy covered stones sits a black kitsu around him are glowing lanterns....and booze. It seems this kitsu has chosen to celebrate this season by handing out lanterns to those who gather...while he drinks. He doesn't seem to be handing them out for just showing up though he seems to be wordlessly waiting for kitsu to do something before he staggers over and hands them a lantern. ​

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

........................ How to participate!.........................

Three colors of Lanterns are available and there are three task to be done.

1: If you wish to get the Silver Lantern you must respond with a prompt of your kitsu cleaning the shrines of their family or the shrines of kitsu who seem to have been forgotten.

2: If you wish to get the Gold Lantern you must respond with a prompt of your kitsu bringing offerings to the shrines of their family or the shrines of kitsu who have been forgotten.

3: If you wish to get the Black Lantern you have two prompts to chose from the first is cleaning the surrounding area of the festival the ivy gets mighty over grown even to the point of covering some old shrines. Or to have your kitsu ask a question of the tiny kitsu who seems to be handing out the lanterns. This first response can be short but you must finish the conversation with the Kitsu in order to receive the black lantern.

Rules:
1: You can do one of each prompt per kitsu that you own
2: You can use as many kistu as you like
3: Prompt three should you choose to ask questions to mus complete the conversation up to when the kitsu gives your kitsu the lantern to fully earn the lantern.
4: Prompts 1, 2, and non conversation option 3 must equal 500 words or more.

Starts: Now
Ends: November 1st @ 12:01 am

​

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

..................................Form.......................................

[color=orange]
[size=18]Here for the festival![/size]
[b]User Name:
Prompt Choice:
Kitsu:[/b] ((cert image))
[b]Prompt Response:[/b][/color]

 

[One Little Jay]

Here for the festival!
Username: One Little Jay
Prompt Choice:1,2,3
Kitsu:

Prompt Response: Aleckai had no family that he knew of, he had been left as a kit abandoned and had grown up by himself, sneaking and stealing whatever he needed. So the whole day of the dead remembrance always hit a rough chord with him. He would watch the Kitsu's as they set up their family shrines. He would try desperately to think of what his parents might have looked like, what his family might have looked like. Did they have a shrine here? Was it being tended by a relative that wasn't abandoned? Or was it left to rot and fall apart like those that were being forgotten?

The thought of his relative's shrines crumbling and being forgotten always gave him a pit in his stomach. He looked at the shrines around him some of them lit with pretty candles and sweets, while others were covered in cobwebs. he made his way over to a seemingly forgotten shrine. he began by dusting it off, so the picture there was visible he stood for a moment looking at it and found himself wondering who they were, what was their story and why did their shrine fall into ruin? Perhaps they had no family, or maybe like him, they abandoned that family. If they had abandoned their family in this life then it would make sense why they would be forgotten in the next.

He shook his head it wasn't right to think ill of the dead, he knew that much. His face changed momentarily from the normal sneer to a softer more compassionate grimace. The grass surrounding had overgrown and looked a mess, he took his time slowly and deliberately plucking the pieces of grass one by one. Every few pieces he would stand back to make sure it was even. Then he would go back, pluck a few more, admire, so on and so forth until the grass surrounding the shrine looked uniform.

He then had to deal with the fallen leaves, they were beautiful in their own right but as they had fallen naturally lacked any sort of order. He made the decision that this kitsu would have admired the leaves and Kai too admired them, perhaps he was just imposing his own will onto this forgotten shrine, but he wanted to treat it as if it was his family member. Though if we were to get to thr root of his abandonment issues he may realize he was doing it for himself. As he feared he would be forgotten he feared no shrine would be erected for him, no one would bring him gifts, the grass would grow long and the leaves would fall, ivy would grow and there would be no one there for him to clean it.

He would not let that be this kitsu's fate, he decided as he picked up the leaves, he sorted them by colour and laid them in a colourful circle around the bottom ranging from deep red in a gradient to pale yellow, and leaves that were too dead or brittle were put aside with the grass he had plucked. The shrine needed no dead leaves. Lastly, he had to deal with the Ivy its vines grew up around the shrine holding it as if to embrace the long-forgotten kitsu. "I'm here now, its okay" he mumbles softly as he pulled the ivy away. He took a few steppes back to admire his work, already it was beginning to look presentable again.

(prompt 2 starting)
Now he had to go about getting objects for the shrine, usually one would see things from the kitu's life on their shrine, the food they loved, the objects they held dear. Unfortunately, Aleckai had no knowledge of who this Kitsu once was and he found his brain wandering off on all the trails of who they may have been.

Maybe they were a baker, who loved loaves of bread and sweets, maybe they were adventurous and loved maps and compasses. Maybe they were a shut-in who surrounded themselves with books instead of the company of the outside world. "Who were you?" Aleckai asked looking intently at the photo on the shrine, like it could speak back to him or give him some sort of answer as to what should be on their shrine. He knew of course that couldn't happen and he knew that he would have to make those decisions for the long forgotten.

So he began to think, what would he want to put on his mother or fathers shrine? What would he want on his? He started off with candles, he found a tall white candle that would burn through the whole night, and then a big red candle that if he lit at the right time would too last the night. He then wound some red and white flowers, he didn't know the type. Kai was not a botanist and really only picked them for how closely they matched the candles. He began deliberately placing them around the shrine, white then red alternating between the two in an arch around the photo.

He then stole found a red and white sugar skull that matched the flowers and the candles, he had seen it on another shrine that was so full of personal stuff certainly they wouldn't miss it he thought. Going off his baker train of thought he found a loaf of bread, it was a sweet bread and he placed it behind the candles close to the photo, he then turned his head to look around at some of the other shrines, what else could he add without knowing the kitsu he was building it for?

He noticed quite a few incense burners and thought it would be a neat thing to add, but what scents would lure this forgotten kitsu back? He thought of his own favourite smells, freshly baked apple pie, clean spring air, pumpkins growing in their patches, the spices of coffee and freshly brewed tea. So many smells that delighted the senses but which one to use. He took a few steps back to get the full picture of the alter and it was admittedly a little sad looking, thousands of times better than it was when he came upon it but still next to the well cared for shrines it looked disjointed and sad, with that he knew JUST the smell to use.

He went and found a log, not too wet not too dry and lit a fire, let it burn for a few seconds and put it out with water causing the log to smoke. he let the smoke seep into the wood and it gave off the kind of smell that you can only get from a bonfire, the earthy smoke smell that he felt was perfect for his shut-in baker adventurer.

(Promt three)

After his work was finished he was proud of the shrine he had come up with, he nodded approvingly to himself and began to walk around a bit, he wanted to look at the other shrines and maybe see if there was any work to be done. That is when he noticed out of the corner of his eye a tiny kitsu sitting on a shrine of ivy and booze, it looks like he knows how to have a good time. He watched them for a while seeing them give out lanterns, he eyed the black lantern and felt a need to have one. He strolled over attempting to be as nonchalant as possible. "Hey there!" He called out, "Looks like someone is having a good time." He motioned to the bottle of booze that layed nearby with his paw. "How would I go about getting one of those lanterns there?" he motioned to the black lantern his eyes fixed on the kitsu he was talking to, remarking mentally how much larger Kai was than them and thinking to himself. 'You should just grab one how would he stop you'.

 

[Reoakee]

Here for the festival!
Name: Reoakee
Prompt Choice: 1: If you wish to get the Silver Lantern you must respond with a prompt of your kitsu cleaning the shrines of their family or the shrines of kitsu who seem to have been forgotten.
Kitsu:

Prompt Response:

Miekien had come here not with any one particular shrine to clean. After all he wouldn’t have to worry as his family would take care of the old family shrines and he didn’t want to bump into them as they weren’t really on speaking terms still. He went about to other shrines and started to clean them off. He gentle started on vines pulling them off and draping them around the ground pulling out the uglier weeds and clearing off some of the debris. While he did that he thought back to when he was a child. His family had always made a big deal about cleaning up the family shrines. They didnt’ do much for the shrines of the others who weren’t part of their family. It was strange how he remembered those things while he worked. His family was strange like that. They focused on his small magic skill rather then his love of clothier work which lead to him leaving. He wondered if the souls of the dead watched their decendents and how they must feel watching such a strict non changing family. It wasn’t that they were evil, in fact they gave much back to the community but they weren’t warm at all. He hoped the souls of the shrines he was cleaning wouldn’t mind him taking care of them. There was a few wrappers and here and there so he picked those up as well. They were likely from those coming to share treats and stories of the dead. Thankfully there was another kitsu who had a bag. Next year he would bring out a trash bag too. It was cleaning with others that made this more bearable. He couldn't’ imagine being a groundskeeper doing all this alone. Heading back to picking up trash he noticed a few bottles of drained alcohol by the one who was handing out lanterns. He moved and picked up a few empty bottles and then went back to picking up around the shrines. That grave keeper must be very overworked to want to drink so much. He would be around for much of the night doing this during the night he noticed the drunken kitsu drop off several lanterns. That was nice of him though how they picked the lantern made no sense to him. Once several of the shrines were cleared he tried to figure out what top place on them. He had several small trinkets. They weren’t much some dyed and embroidered cloths and small things. There was really only so much he could make with his skills and still keep them small enough to fit on the shrines with all the food bits and candles.. He didn’t know if the dead could see what happened but he hoped that if someone did come to the forgotten graves they would know someone took care of them and showed some reverence for them. He said a small quite prayer of peace at each shrine when he was done before moving onto the next one.

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

After his work was finished he was proud of the shrine he had come up with, he nodded approvingly to himself and began to walk around a bit, he wanted to look at the other shrines and maybe see if there was any work to be done. That is when he noticed out of the corner of his eye a tiny kitsu sitting on a shrine of ivy and booze, it looks like he knows how to have a good time. He watched them for a while seeing them give out lanterns, he eyed the black lantern and felt a need to have one. He strolled over attempting to be as nonchalant as possible. "Hey there!" He called out, "Looks like someone is having a good time." He motioned to the bottle of booze that layed nearby with his paw. "How would I go about getting one of those lanterns there?" he motioned to the black lantern his eyes fixed on the kitsu he was talking to, remarking mentally how much larger Kai was than them and thinking to himself. 'You should just grab one how would he stop you'.

The tiny black kitsu seemed to have his eye on everyone at the event as he sipped on what ever strong smelling liquid lurked in his bottle. He was about to get up when a kitsu approached him. This one was an interesting fellow, didn't seem to be here for a certain family member and didn't mind snitching from others offerings to their passed love ones. This didn't really bother Oath he found it rather amusing. "Good evening." Oath responded with a hiccup on the end. "You have a strange concept of a good time." Oath said narrowing his eyes and seeming rather grumpy. His grumpy face only got even more so as the kitsu asked for his lanterns. "How rude you are asking me questions without even first knowing my name." He almost hissed it. "Two you have earned but they third you have not. Even if you have earned them in less then honorable means." Oath then slid the a gold and a silver lantern to Kai and seemed to try to shoo him away. ((conversation not finished))

Kai has received the following lanterns there is a strange aura to them.

 

[One Little Jay]

The tiny black kitsu seemed to have his eye on everyone at the event as he sipped on what ever strong smelling liquid lurked in his bottle. He was about to get up when a kitsu approached him. This one was an interesting fellow, didn't seem to be here for a certain family member and didn't mind snitching from others offerings to their passed love ones. This didn't really bother Oath he found it rather amusing. "Good evening." Oath responded with a hiccup on the end. "You have a strange concept of a good time." Oath said narrowing his eyes and seeming rather grumpy. His grumpy face only got even more so as the kitsu asked for his lanterns. "How rude you are asking me questions without even first knowing my name." He almost hissed it. "Two you have earned but they third you have not. Even if you have earned them in less then honorable means." Oath then slid the a gold and a silver lantern to Kai and seemed to try to shoo him away. ((conversation not finished))

Kai has received the following lanterns there is a strange aura to them.

Kai grumbled at the little Kistu, "What's got you in such a rotten mood?". He chuckled at the comment of Honorable means. "Everything I took is in better condition than I found it. Some just don't deserve the thing that they have." He nodded in a very matter of fact way." Go ahead, try to tell me that I am wrong. Look at the black lanterns though, tell me it wouldn't go nicely on the shrine over there" he motioned to the shrine he had just left, the whole red white and black theme was obvious. "What purpose is it serving sitting over here by you?" He tried to put on a charming smile but knew that it came off as slightly unnerving.

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

@Reoakee

Oath seemed to watch Miekien for awhile and when his prayer was done Oath stood before him with a silver lantern in his mouth he laid it before Miekien before giving a nod and walking away back to his piles of lanterns and booze.

Meikien has received this lantern a strange seems to come from the item.

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

Kai grumbled at the little Kistu, "What's got you in such a rotten mood?". He chuckled at the comment of Honorable means. "Everything I took is in better condition than I found it. Some just don't deserve the thing that they have." He nodded in a very matter of fact way." Go ahead, try to tell me that I am wrong. Look at the black lanterns though, tell me it wouldn't go nicely on the shrine over there" he motioned to the shrine he had just left, the whole red white and black theme was obvious. "What purpose is it serving sitting over here by you?" He tried to put on a charming smile but knew that it came off as slightly unnerving.

"A question that's not quite as rude I suppose. For some remembering is enjoyable for others not so much." Oath explained calmly. "I had no problem with what you did for the reason behind it was an honorable one." Oath responded almost seeming amused at this point. "What purpose indeed?" Oath slid the lantern to Kai and seemed to drag another gulp from his bottle.
((Conversation End : Standard))

Kai has received a black and orange Lantern together their aura seems stronger.

 

[Niyaru]

Here for the festival!
User Name: Niyaru
Prompt Choice: 1
Kitsu:

Prompt Response:
This was her first Festival of the Dead and she was shocked to see just how many shrines seem to have been forgotten. Her warm blue eyes looked around and softened with sadness to see the difference between those that were spotless and those that were covered with debris from nature itself. She clicked her tongue once her decision was made to clean the shrines. Everyone deserved the same treatment dead or alive. Could it be possible that those who once took great care of these shrines have their own? She looked around at others who were celebrating lives lost and remembering the past. It all brought a smile to her and warmed her heart to see it. "This is your day." She whispered to all of the unclean shrines. She approached the first one in the row and decided it was going to be a breeze to clean. It was covered in some dirt and dust with a few leaves here and there. "Please allow me." She whispered to the shrine as she lowered her head and carefully removed the leaves one by one with her mouth. Once the leaves were all removed, she turned around to carefully and softly use her tails to knock away the dust and dirt. When she thought that she got rid of it all she turned back around to inspect her work. Phaedra was proud of herself for doing a great job and smiled at the shrine. "I hope you lived a wonderful life." She whispered again to the shrine, talking as if the one it was for was right next to her.

She took another moment with pure silence to honor the one who used to be a living soul. She collected herself and decided to move on to the next one. It was a few shrines down and wasn't as dirty as the one she finished. It appeared to be just covered in dust and leaves. She decided she would give each shrine the same treatment. She looked for any trinkets or offerings that had been long forgotten. It was just like the first, bare of any offerings or trinkets. She found herself frowning at just how forgotten they seemed to be in the present. She cleared her mind and got to work on removing the leaves one by one with her mouth. She followed it up with using her tails again to clear off the dust. When the job was done she turned around and chose to speak to this shrine too. "I hope you lived a wonderful life." She said with hope and a small sense of joy at paying respects. She closed her eyes and stood in silence again, honoring the life lost.

Her eyes opened and she smiled to herself and the shrine before her. She looked between the first one and the one she just finished cleaning. Her smile faded to a frown as she noticed just how bare the shrines were compared to those remembered. She wished that she could leave something for them so they didn't feel left out but she hoped cleaning was enough for she didn't have anything. She was going to move to the last one on this row but noticed that there was another who had decided to clean the forgotten shrines as well. She felt a surge of happiness radiate through her, she wasn't the only one who took notice. She decided to leave the other to the last one and went about her way through the aisles of shrines looking for more that had been forgotten.
[598]





Here for the festival!
User Name: Niyaru
Prompt Choice: 2
Kitsu:

Prompt Response:
Lillian had heard all kind of things about this festival from others but decided to experience it for herself. It was true that she had no one to pay respects to but wanted to come and offer up some kind words and flowers for those with no one. She had taken time before hand to gather up a variety of bright orange and yellow flowers to leave at shrines. She had chosen the bright colors because they reminded her of how life can be so bold and beautiful. She was surprised by just how many were there to celebrate those no longer living and those paying respects.

Lilli made sure that her flowers were still carefully tucked beneath the band around her waist before she moved through the aisles of shrines. She would stop at those who had no offerings resting in place. She carefully pulled either a yellow or orange flower from her back and place it down before saying a few kind words. "I hope you accept this token in rememberance and let it bring you joy and comfort." She didn't say the words to loud but it didn't come out as a whisper either. If someone were next to her, they could have been able to understand her words. "May you rest knowing I know you are here and you are not truly forgotten though I do not know you." She continued with her sweet words hoping that the dead could actually hear her.

She went through several aisles of shrines and had given countless flowers to those with nothing. She even spoke the same sort of words to each one. It might not have been word for word with each one but the intent behind the words were still present. She continued to pay attention to each forgotten shrine and spirit until she realized that she had no more flowers to give. Her heart swelled with sadness as she looked around and could still see those with no lanterns or offerings. She paused and wondered just what else she could leave as an offering. She stood in place contemplating heavily on if she even had anything else to give. She had spent days before today gathering the flowers from different places. She sighed heavily when she decided that there was nothing else she could offer from home. She wasn't about to leave the shrines without at least saying some words to them so they could take comfort in someone noticing them.

She went to the last few shrines that had been forgotten with a sense of sadness. She could only offer her words of kindess and respect. "I hope this can be enough comfort for you, I'm sorry I don't have anything else." She spoke the words a little softer than before, a little defeated even. She underestimated just how many shrines and souls were forgotten. She sat down at the last shrine and just stared at it in wonder. What makes a shrine become forgotten?
[500]




Here for the festival!
User Name: Niyaru
Prompt Choice: 3
Kitsu:

Prompt Response:
Celaena wasn't going to come to the festival because she had no shrine to visit. She wasn't sure what changed her mind about coming but she found herself standing and staring. A rather interesting looking kitsu caught her attention. It seemed to be enjoying itself a great deal. There were numerous lanterns surrounding it and a few bottles of liquor at its feet. "Greetings. Could you share some?" She asked with genuine wonder as she nodded towards the bottle.

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

@Niyaru

Oath seemed to watch Phaedra for awhile and took note of the dedication in which they seemed to take care of the forgotten shrine. He picked up a silver lantern and moved to lay it in her path nodding his head letting her know it was her's before he left.

Phaedra has received this lantern a strange aura seems to come from the item.

Oath watched as Lillian paid respects to the graves by leaving flowers they had collected. He seemed to wait till she was finished with her work and he brought her a lantern laying it in front of her. "I think the flowers are wonderful gift. Let me give you one." Oath nodded before leaving,

Lillian has received this lantern a strange aura comes from the item.

"Forward one aren't you?" Oath said drumming his paws on the bottle before taking another sip. "I suppose there is no harm if you can handle it that is." He uncorked a bottle and slid it over it smelled strong. ((conversation not complete))

 

[Reoakee]

Here for the festival!
User Name: Reoakee
Prompt Choice: 2:
Kitsu:

Prompt Response:
She came along with Miekien or rather followed along humming quietly. While the fauna moved about cleaning up shrines she focused on bringing things to the little forgotten shrines. She was far from home but she found herself still saying a prayer for her own family so far away. “May your souls find peace and hope.” She prayed like she had always done since the year she lost her beloved knight. She said a prayer for his soul as well. While this was a celebration of life she still found herself crying a bit when she remembered the lost. She couldn't’ help it. Those memories were bittersweet. She noticed the black kitsu handing out lanterns. She bowed her head to him. “thank you for honoring the dead and gifts you give to the living.” She quickly moved aside as others seemed to want to speak to the black kitsu. She moved about dropping off the small gifts for the forgotten. She noticed more then a few of them were alcohol based. Perhaps ghosts liked to drink? She really didn't’ know.



So many shrines were picked up by now the place was looking more like a festival then a graveyard. Her cheeks had dry tear tracks when someone handed her a handkerchief she looked over and noticed it was her fauna friend who was now smiling and holding a silver lantern. She blinked not even realizing he had gotten one. “ah guess I was caught?” she gave a small smile and took the handkerchief and cleaned off the fur on her face so it was harder to tell she had been crying during the prayers. “Care to say a few prayers with me for the lost and the forgotten?” She watched her blue friend nod as they sat down at a shrine to pray.





“Oh soul who has parted this land. I know not how you left this plane nor those who might carry your remembrance in their heart. Still though I know not I feel certain that your life has touched the hearts of those around you affecting them. That spark you left carries on in their hearts and in the lives of those that they touch. To this end we remember you and thank you for helping to shape the lives of the living so that we may all move forward. Though the god of death had claimed you for their own may they treat you with love and kindness for their embrace in time will welcome us all. We honor your life for what it must have been and hope that our own futures may shine so others will remember us as well. Thank you for your guidance.” She bowed her head to the shrine before moving onto the next one that wasn’t surrounded by a number of kitsu. If a family moved away from their own shrine she also said a prayer for them. Any trash left behind she would pick up. After all many were distracted as she had been before when she had shed tears with her prayers.

 

[Seimei]

Amber and I got this lantern

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

((closed to new forms unless you have been told to post a lantern you got))

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

@Niyaru
Celaena receives a black and orange lantern

@Reoakee
Rose Ren receives a gold lantern

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

The festival comes to a close.
Kitsu start to gather their things to head home. Some have happy faces and others more . It seemed all that had cleaned or tended to shrines forgotten or their families were leaving with at least one lantern or more from the tiny black kitsu. The area seemed bright and warm despite it being night time. Just as everyone was leaving a small gust of wind seemed to make the petals from flowers on the shrines dance around the kitsu as they headed home almost like something was thanking everyone for their time and attention. Meanwhile the little black kitsu seemed to be packing what was left as he drunkenly hummed a sad sounding tune that all could hear.

((In this meta there were 2 endings to unlock, The prize ending has been unlocked thanks to Middyglow via orp middy gets a custom guardian for unlocking this. The second ending remains a mystery unsolved better luck next time!))

This Angelic ghost was attracted to the festival by all the lanterns. They had long forgotten where the festival took place so they are grateful to all the kitsu that helped them find their way once more so the could celebrate one of their favorite festivals.

At first this meta was just for neat trinkets but with the raffle unlocked everything you did counted towards tickets for this kitsu.

Silver lanterns: 1 ticket
Gold lanterns: 2 tickets
Black lanterns: 3 tickets
Plus 1 ticket if you earned all three

Participation in the ORP: 1 ticket
Plus 1 ticket if you joined the ORP and earned your tickets separately from that

I'll be posting a raffle list and leaving it till 9 pm est for everyone to check.

​

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

Raffle list
1-9 Onelittlejay
10 Reoakee
11-17 Niyaru
18-19 Reoakee
20-23 Seimei
24 ToraHiroba
25-29 Mutilated Moogle
30-37 Middyglow
38 Katie
39 Zakiax
40 Eris​

 

[Valdmir Talamore]

1-9 Onelittlejay
10 Reoakee
11-17 Niyaru
18-19 Reoakee
20-23 Seimei
24 ToraHiroba
25-29 Mutilated Moogle
30-37 Middyglow
38 Katie
39 Zakiax
40 Eris